US20170065008A1

US20170065008A1 - Textured thumb covers

Info

Publication number: US20170065008A1
Application number: US14/849,337
Authority: US
Inventors: Victor Owens
Original assignee: Womble-Baker Victoria
Current assignee: Womble-Baker Victoria
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2015-09-09
Publication date: 2017-03-09

Abstract

Textured thumb covers for placement over a wearer's thumb while utilizing a manually actuated input device on a game controller. The textured thumb covers include a pair of mirror image cover bodies, each sized to enclose a thumb of a wearer, and an integral textured wrap disposed over each cover body. Each cover body includes a base end defined by an open mouth at which an elastic retaining ring for anchoring the cover body to the base of thumb is disposed. Each textured wrap is an assembly of plurality of interconnected elastic strands of sized to be stretched together over the cover body when the cover body is in place on a thumb. The placement of the elastic strands on the smooth cover body creates a textured surface which is suitable to increase traction on the surface of the thumb cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to finger protectors and, more particularly, to wearable thumb coverings for use while using video game controllers.
Description of the Prior Art
The use of conventional hand held game controllers as an input device for a video game is well known. Many convention controller designs specifically contemplate extensive use of a user's thumbs, particularly game controllers which include one or more analog sticks centrally positioned thereon. While such analog sticks are often popular because they provide control in more than eight directions (compared to a conventional directional pad), a common problem which exists due to the extensive use of such analog pads is that it may become difficult to maintain a secure grip of the analog stick as a user's thumbs become sweaty from extended periods of use. Thus, there remains a need for textured thumb covers which, when worn by a user, allows a solid grip to be maintained event after extended periods of use. It would be helpful if such textured thumb covers were constructed of an elastic material and included an elastic rim so as to be firmly securable to a wearer and not inadvertently fall off. It would be additionally desirable for such textured thumb covers to include a integral textured wrap which improves a wearer's grip on an analog stick while in use.
The Applicant's invention described herein provides for textured thumb covers adapted to be worn while utilizing a game controller to provide an enhanced grip of the manual actuated input devices on a game controller. The primary components in Applicant's textured thumb covers are a cover body and an integral textured wrap. When in operation, the textured thumb covers enable more effective handling of a game controller without requiring a user to cover their entire hand (as with traditional gloves). As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Textured thumb covers for placement over a wearer's thumb while utilizing a manually actuated input device on a game controller. The textured thumb covers include a pair of mirror image cover bodies, each sized to enclose a thumb of a wearer, and a discrete integral textured wrap disposed over each cover body. Each cover body includes a base end defined by an open mouth at which an elastic retaining ring for anchoring the cover body to the base of thumb is disposed. Each textured wrap is an assembly of plurality of overlapping elastic strands of sized to fit over the cover body when the cover body is in place on a thumb. The inclusion of the elastic strands on the smooth cover body creates a textured surface which is suitable to increase traction on the surface of the thumb cover.
It is an object of this invention to provide textured thumb covers which, when worn by a user, allows a solid grip to be maintained event after extended periods of use.
It is another object of this invention to provide textured thumb covers constructed of an elastic material and including an elastic rim so as to be firmly securable to a wearer and not inadvertently fall off.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide textured thumb covers which include a integral textured wrap which improves a wearer's grip on an analog stick while in use.
These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of textured thumb covers built in accordance with the present invention in place on the hands of a wearer.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a single textured thumb cover built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, textured thumb covers 10 in accordance with the present invention are shown as a pair of mirror image cover bodies 11, each having a integral textured wrap 20. Each cover body 11 defines a thumb shaped covering having a tip end 12 and a base end 13 and which includes an elongated body sized to enclose a thumb of a wearer. The base end 13 is defined by an open mouth which allows the thumb to be inserted into the cover body 11. At the base end 13 is an elastic retaining ring 14 which is structured to allow the mouth to stretched open through the application of manual pressure when a thumb is being inserted into the cover body 11 and then exert inward pressure (more so than the cover body 11, as explained below) on the thumb inside the cover body 11 so as to hold the cover body 11 on the thumb.
In the preferred embodiment, each cover body 11 is constructed of a rubber material (natural or synthetic) and the retaining ring 14 is constructed of a discrete rubber material having a lower modulus than the material of the cover body 11. As such, the diameter of each thumb cover 10 at the retaining ring 14 is slightly smaller than that of the cover body 11 adjacent to the retaining ring. Accordingly, while the retaining ring 14 can be stretched wide enough to allow a thumb to pass into the cover body 11, it returns to an original shape that is smaller so as to render it suitable to hold the cover body 11 in place on a thumb.
Each textured wrap 20 defines a contiguous body which is made up of a plurality of overlapping elastic strands sized to together fit over the cover body 11. The placement of the elastic strands on the smooth cover body 11 creates a textured surface which is suitable to increase traction on the surface of the thumb cover 10. It is contemplated that the textured wrap 20 is sized so as to exert slight inward pressure on the cover body 11 when in place thereon, providing some redundancy to the retaining ring 14 in holding the thumb cover 10 in place on a wearer.
It is appreciated that cover bodies 11 and textured wraps 20 may be availed in different colors. As such, a user can customize their thumb covers 10 by using various cover bodies 11 and textured wraps 20.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A textured thumb cover for use while utilizing a manually actuated input device on a game controller, comprising:

a cover body defines an elongated, thumb shaped hollow covering having a closed tip end opposite an open base end, wherein said cover body is sized to enclose a thumb of a wearer;

an elastic retaining ring integral with the base end; and

a textured wrap defining a plurality of interconnected elastic strands, wherein said textured wrap is adapted to fit over the cover body to increase traction.

2. The textured thumb cover of claim 1, wherein the cover body is constructed of an elastic material, thereby adapting the cover body to exert inward pressure on a thumb on which it is positioned.

3. The textured thumb cover of claim 2, wherein the retaining ring is adapted to exert more inward pressure on a thumb inside the cover body relative to the cover body, thereby enabling the retaining ring to hold the cover body on the thumb.

4. The textured thumb cover of claim 3, wherein the textured wrap is adapted to exert inward pressure on a thumb inside the cover body through the cover body, thereby enabling the textured wrap to hold the cover body on the thumb.

5. The textured thumb cover of claim 1, wherein the textured wrap, when positioned over the cover body, is adapted to exert inward pressure on a thumb inside the cover body through the cover body, thereby enabling the textured wrap to hold the cover body on the thumb.